Brendan Loughnane has been brought up in the school of hard knocks.

The British MMA fighter, 32, faces American veteran Bubba Jenkins in the final of the 2022 PFL Featherweight Championship tomorrow night at New York's iconic Madison Square Garden.

The prize? A cool one million dollars, which is a life-changing amount of money for anyone.

It's something Loughnane is well aware of having been forced to come up the hard way after being on the wrong end of a few controversial split decisions over the years.

READ MORE: How can I watch PFL in the UK?

Speaking exclusively to GIVEMESPORT.com, he said: "I've had four losses in my career, and I've been unlucky that all of them have been very close fights, three split decisions and one unanimous decision.

"But the first professional loss that I had to Mike Wilkinson I was 20 years old I think, it was on The Ultimate Fighter finale, and I fought him and I lost a unanimous decision. But it was a very close fight, a very competitive fight. And yeah, it took me a while to get back on the horse, it did, it did, it hurt me.

"I've had three losses since then. None of them have felt easier, they really didn't. I hate losing, I hate losing in anything in life."

Brendan Loughnane celebrates after beating Chris Wade

Brendan Loughnane celebrates after beating Chris Wade

But despite the lucrative prize on offer, he insists that money isn't his real motivation.

READ MORE: PFL World Championship 2022: Fight Card, Live Stream and more

He added: "I'm quite notorious for being an over-trainer and being the last guy in the gym because I don't want to have any doubt in my mind that I didn't do everything I possibly could to win this fight.

"Whether it's for 50 dollars or a million dollars, I'm still fighting a man, like, I'm still fighting somebody, like whether the purse be whatever or whatever it is, the guy could hurt me if I don't train.

"That's what I think, this guy could physically hurt me in front of my friends and family, so I'm going to do everything I can in that gym and that training camp to make sure that doesn't happen, and that's my mindset."

Loughnane, who has spent time training in Thailand with the likes of Darren Till and Rafael Fiziev in preparation for the bout, is unsurprisingly brimming with confidence.

He continued: "I can't see Bubba Jenkins beating me, I really can't.

"I'm going to stop Bubba Jenkins in this fight. I just don't think he's on my level MMA wise. He's a great wrestler, but this is MMA.

"I'm great at defending takedowns and I've got dangerous hands so everybody knows what I'm capable of on the feet and I'll be able to keep it on the feet and beat him up. Genuinely that's what I believe in my heart."


You can keep up to date with all of the latest MMA News right here on GIVEMESPORT.